quaalude overdose, ER, 1980

Status
Not open for further replies.

Transatlantic

Should be writing!
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jun 11, 2011
Messages
158
Reaction score
18
Location
London
My character overdoses on quaaludes in 1980 in a major US city. She takes them within an hour or so after a glass or two of wine and maybe a few drags on a joint. Then about half an hour later (?) she passes out.

An ambulance is called, and she goes to the ER.

How long is she "in the back" at the ER before a doctor comes out to the waiting room and tells her companions who called the ambulance that she's going to be OK? Would a doctor even do that? And - most important Q - how long until she's released, assuming the above? She's young and otherwise healthy.

If anybody can correct any errors here and answer these Qs, I'll be very grateful! Many thanks.
 

MaeZe

Kind Benefactor
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jun 6, 2016
Messages
12,772
Reaction score
6,477
Location
Ralph's side of the island.
I can say what was normal in an ED in WA State in the 80s.

One of the nurses would ask the companions what she took if they haven't already told the paramedics (look up the EMS services where this is going to take place because who responds will differ).

They would do a tox screen (blood) and gastric lavage (pump the stomach). After that one gives activated charcoal to absorb what wasn't pumped out. (You can look up overdose treatment.) The tox screen would be quick given the circumstances. But all that stomach pumping and activated charcoal will take a couple hours, longer if the ED is busy.

If she started coming around they might let the companions go back to where she was and she'd tell them herself.

They might keep her a couple hours and send her out, or more than likely she'd stay the night. The nurse will come tell the patient and the companions they are admitting her overnight and tell the companions how they can visit. Generally if she was admitted, the ED would make the companions wait while she's transferred. Then it would be up to the unit staff and hospital rules if they could visit. It was looser in the 80s who could visit so if these were friends who came in with her, they'd be allowed to visit.

Sometime during this time the ED staff (at the desk) would want to contact next of kin, someone has to consent to care if she can't. Though they will still treat her if they can't find a responsible person to consent under emergency treatment rules.

The cops might be called (but mostly for specific reasons; the ED staff don't turn people in for drug use). A psych referral would be made for the drug use problem.

Some of this depends on what relation the companions are to the woman.
 
Last edited:

Transatlantic

Should be writing!
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jun 11, 2011
Messages
158
Reaction score
18
Location
London
Thank you so much, MaeZe! Really helpful.

PS Great sig.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.